With over 115,000 residents in the city of Toronto without power, concerned executives of Toronto Civic Employees Union (TCEU) CUPE Local 416 have converted their office into an emergency warming center for their members and the surrounding public.

"With a limited number of warming centers available for residents, we felt that it was a good idea to open up our union hall to our own members who are dealing with storm damage and power outages during this emergency," said Dave Hewitt, vice-president of CUPE 416.

"Thank you so much for doing this," said Kathleen Wynne as she greeted volunteers at the CUPE 416 union hall. "Everybody is pitching in... it's all appreciated," said Wynne, complementing the volunteers at CUPE 416 for a job well done.

"We're also lending councillor Mary Fragedakis a generator and lighting systems for a seniors' home at 1081 1/2 Pape," said Hewitt. "They have no power there so we're sending it out there tomorrow so they can have a Christmas dinner."

"When an emergency like this happens, we all need to look after each other," said Hewitt.